The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-08-04

Astoria Chamber of Commerce -. @
City of Goldendale e....-.. 10
La Camas Observation-Disclosures. IL U
City OF Pendieton n............ 10 0
Total ................... $l60 o
Which amount hes been disbursed a
follows:
For printing 1 500 copies of official
proceedings s....-..............S "
For postage, expressags and tele-
| grams 10 D
For employment of type writer for
memorial and Jones' resolution. l6 O
For expenses for travelling to Port
land connected with statistics,
on two occasions ......... . U
For printing letter heads, enve-
lopes, circulars and stationery. 12 4!
For services in compiling, superin-
! tending publication and for dis
! tribution of same. q U
! lOtal --.---.- -.-Sloo "
! All of which is respectfully submitted
, WM. Ii. BBEwsTEg.
Secretary
The report was ordered accepted
On motion, the railroad commission.
ers, and other prominent gentlemen
present, were-invited to seats within
the bar. On motion, reporters and
representatives of the press were in
yited to seats within the bar. On
motion, vote OF thanks was ten
dered Mr.. Brewster, for his services
as secretary of the convention.
- ha
progress and necessities was then
read as follows:
REPORT
To the WaterIody C0nrentioa::
Pursuant to the instructions of your
honorable body, your committee have
visited and examined the Cascade locks
and report as follows: Every courtesy
and facility was accorded us by Capt.
Young and Lieut.. Burr in charge of the
works. The locks at the Cascades were
commenced about ten years ago, and at
the rate the general government has
been appropriating the funds, il ten
years more sees them completed we shall
be most agreeably surprised. In the
year &c, 1000 were appropriated; in
'7S, S159,C00; in '79, 100000; in 80,
$lO0, 200; in 'Sl, $lO1,0C); in 'S2, $685.
QUO; in '84, $150, 900; in 'S6, $1S7, 500; total,
81, 49, ,5c0. OF this amount something
over one million has been expended, and
it will cost million and half more to
complete the present plans. This would
allow the passage. at one time, of q
steamboat with three barges in tow.
It has been questioned whether a
smaller canal, completed in less time
and subject to future enlargement might
not have been better. The board of en-
gineers, however, in view of the almost
universal experience of other canals sub
sequently enlarged, and on account of
the local difficulty at the Cascades in
tho way of enlargement, determined on
plan large enough once for all.
Of the $l87 500 last appropriated all
but about $4,000 have been expended
and the balance will be before another
river and harbor bill becomes law. Of
this last appropriation spent, we find,
approximately, that some $500 cubic
yards of bed rock have been excavated
for the center lock at a cost of about
S46, 200. We give this ION information
and belief" as at the time of our visit
the unusually high river had filled the
hole too deep with water for personal
investigation, and the sub committee
appointed declined to wade in AMI ia
spect. In grading, $1,000 have been
used, the cost per cubic yard being -
cents. On tramway $1,000. On a new
building for q machine and blacksmith
shop, $500. One thousand cubic yards
of sand were purchased at 81 per yard.
A wharf erected cost S2,700. The sum of
$15,0 200 was used in quarrying stone, and
SIC, 800 were expended on stone cutting;
5000 in paving the sides of the locks,
and the items of engineering, superin-
tending, etc., has cost probably $4,000
more.
The project for the expenditure of the
remaining portion of the appropriation
is to carry on the work of caisson gate,
a wing wall and to proceed with the ex-
cRvation.
Forty-six men are now employed.
The river work consisting in the i'm
prOvement of the channel by blasting
rocks and removing distractions is prob
ably done until the completion Of the
locks when experience will determine
| what further work is necessary.
| 1t is believed that river boats of strong
propelling power can now reach the foot
of the locks during the greater portion
Of the year, and particularly the period
| when the whsat from the interier is mov-
ing seaward.
| A free portage wagon road Is now
ready for use by the public and has
been since January, 1886. 1t extends
nearly three-fourths OF q mile to the
wharf, where the upper river boats can
land, and it seems to be practicable for
the portage to be by tramvay and even
by railway also. In fact in view of the
delay in government works already ex-
psrienced and the length of time liable
to be consumed in any prospective i'm
provement at The Dalles and elsewhere;
either by canal or by any proposed ship
railway, we believe that only through
state aid in the building OF portage rail
roads in the interest of commerce shall
we be able to realize speedy relief.
| The government tow-boat can be made
available now in assisting vessels in as
\ osnding to the foot Of the locks and un-
der the law, as it stands, the expense
could doubtless be paid by the secretary
of war out of the general fund, and not
from the special appropriation.
or the great importance OF a compile
ton Of the contemplated improvements
and an open river both as a means of
transit and regulator Of artificial WAYS
too mach cannot be said. Were it gen
orally understood throughout eastern
Oregon and Washington that no oper
river ever would be secured, it would cas-
g pail Of gloom that would blight all de
velopment in the great interior basin TO-
day.
In the hope of an open river, Of com
petition, of regulation of rates by nat
ural causes or by Law, of reduction il
lfropor>orfotiou rhar0as Eaa tho futur,